Airbnb listings across Australia have exploded by 87% over the past 12 months and new data shows a big jump in the number of whole homes being let via the platform, ABC News has reported. The news comes as Airbnb moves internationally to list more hotels on the site, taking aim at big chain hotels and online travel agencies.

In San Francisco last Thursday, Airbnb co-founder and chief executive Brian Chesky said Airbnb was making it easier for hotels to list. The company also plans to launch a loyalty program later in the year.

While Airbnb seldom releases its own data, the ABC has cited analysis by independent monitoring website Inside Airbnb, which says public Airbnb listings in Australia grew from 43,610 in 2016 to 89,863 in December 2017.

Inside Airbnb, established by New York-based Australian Murray Cox, a campaigner against urban gentrification, has released findings which appear to show a big jump in the number of entire homes listed on Airbnb over same period. These, comprising nearly 70% of all listings, include commercial listings, such as serviced apartments run by property managers.

In Melbourne, more than 12,474 entire homes are available for booking, making up 60% of all listings, Inside Airbnb says. In Sydney, where there are currently 32,830 listings, most are entire homes.

The Airbnb boom has drawn the ire of hoteliers, who say they are facing competition from people who are effectively running informal hotels, without the overheads or the need to meet safety regulations.

Additionally, some residents feel their apartment blocks are turning into quasi-hotels, while short-stay rentals are using up housing stock.

ABC News quoted Airbnb’s Australian head of public policy, Brent Thomas, rejecting the Inside Airbnb analysis. Airbnb says most hosts rent their primary residence occasionally for a modest boost to the household income.

Many cities are tightening up on short-stay accommodation.

According to Deloitte Access Economics, Airbnb guests contribute AUD 1.6 billion to Australia’s GDP, support more than 14,000 jobs, and create significant savings for tourists.